A midnight waltz with a fallen angelAnd your dreams will be fulfilledThe stars will twinkle with the beatOf knowledge for which some have killedBehind the curtain of darknessLies a single ray of lightShadows of the past at your heelsA pain that holds you tightI come to you with a simple offerA dance to meet your every goalI'll give you your dreams on a burning plateBut in return, in return, I want your soulMy enchanting tune will lure you inAnd test the power of your willWhile a breeze of suppression hides the truthMy intent is purely illI'll take the form of anythingTo beguile you with my charmDon't worry! It's just a little danceHow could it bring you harm?A moonlit dance with destinyWill cure you of all your illsWill you be able to withstand the temptationOr will you submit to a midnight waltz?

Wednesday, 29 October 2014

LEAD SAYOU can change the world. Lead SA is a personal call to every person to make a difference. We all have a responsibility to make the world a better place. It could be as simple as making a stranger smile or as big as fighting to further the rights entrenched in our Constitution. Each act makes a difference. This website tells the stories of people who are making our country a better place.

RAPCAN(Resources Aimed at the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect) works to promote the rights and protection of children in South Africa and the region. We are committed to ensuring that the protection (nurturance) and participation (autonomy) rights of children are realised, working within an advocacy framework towards the realisation of a prevention-oriented child protection system, gender equality and child participation. Our work is strengthened by strategic partnerships and the participation of children. We believe in respecting diversity, dignity and the equality of all people, and providing resources to support the testing of professional, high quality, evidence-informed programmes.

Although there is no single syndrome that is universally
present in adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, there is an extensive body
of research that documents adverse short- and long-term effects of such abuse.
To appropriately treat and manage survivors of CSA, it is useful to understand
that survivors' symptoms or behavioral sequelae often represent coping
strategies employed in response to abnormal, traumatic events. These coping
mechanisms are used for protection during the abuse or later to guard against
feelings of overwhelming helplessness and terror. Although some of these coping
strategies may eventually lead to health problems, if symptoms are evaluated
outside their original context, survivors may be misdiagnosed or mislabeled (5).

In addition to the psychologic distress that may potentiate survivors'
symptoms, there is evidence that abuse may result in biophysical changes. For
example, one study found that, after controlling for history of psychiatric
disturbance, adult survivors had lowered thresholds for pain (13). It also has
been suggested that chronic or traumatic stimulation (especially in the pelvic
or abdominal region) heightens sensitivity, resulting in persistent pain such as
abdominal and pelvic pain or other bowel symptoms (14, 15).

Although
responses to sexual abuse vary, there is remarkable consistency in mental health
symptoms, especially depression and anxiety. These mental health symptoms may be
found alone or more often in tandem with physical and behavioral symptoms. More
extreme symptoms are associated with abuse onset at an early age, extended or
frequent abuse, incest by a parent, or use of force (4). Responses may be
mitigated by such factors as inherent resiliency or supportive responses from
individuals who are important to the victim (4). Even without therapeutic
intervention, some survivors maintain the outward appearance of being unaffected
by their abuse. Most, however, experience pervasive and deleterious consequences
(4).

The primary aftereffects of childhood sexual abuse have been
divided into seven distinct, but overlapping categories (16):

Emotional reactions

Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Self-perceptions

Physical and biomedical effects

Sexual effects

Interpersonal effects

Social functioning

Responses can be greatly variable and idiosyncratic within the
seven categories. Also, survivors may fluctuate between being highly symptomatic
and relatively symptom free. Health care providers should be aware that such
variability is normal.

Tjaden P, Thoennes N. Prevalence, incidence,
and consequences of violence against women: findings from the National Violence
Against Women Survey. Research in Brief. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept of Justice,
Office of Justice Programs, November 1998, NCJ 172837

Moore KA, Driscoll
A. Partners, predators, peers, protectors: males and teen pregnancy. New data
analysis of the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth. In: Not just for girls:
the roles of boys and men in teen pregnancy. Washington, DC: The National
Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 1997: 7-12